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Banditry: Nigerien troops rescue Nigerian soldiers
Nine soldiers fleeing bandits’ assault in Sokoto have been rescued by Nigerien troops.
Sources told Daily Trust that the Nigerian soldiers were rescued at Basira, a border village under Gidan Roumdji district of Niger Republic, on Friday.
Daily Trust had reported how bandits attacked a joint military base codenamed “Burkusuma Camp” located in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, killing military and paramilitary officers.
The bandits also attacked Gatawa and other villages around the area.
Although the attack took place in the early hours of Friday, the information did not filter in until Sunday as the area is affected by telecommunication shutdown currently in force in Zamfara State and parts of Sokoto and Katsina.
A member of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Aminu AlMustapha Gobir, confirmed the attack, saying 12 security personnel were killed in action.
Also, the Sokoto State Commissioner for Carriers and Security Matters, Colonel Garba Moyi (rtd) confirmed the attack to Daily Trust but said he was not sure of the casualty figures.
Daily Trust gathered that the attacks on the Sokoto communities were carried out by bandits from the combined teams of two Zamfara bandits’ kingpins, Halilu Sububu and Kachalla Turji.
“The bandits came in large number, surrounded the camp and started firing from every angle,” a former chairman of Sabon Birni Local Government, Engineer Idris Muhammad Gobir (aka Danchadi) told our reporter, citing eyewitnesses from the area.
It was learnt that nine soldiers, three mobile policemen and three personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) lost their lives in the attack. Gobir said many security operatives in the camp were still missing.
The marauders also burnt down two patrol vehicles and carted away another one, which was used to convey food items stolen from the villagers, Daily Trust gathered.
Gobir said they received a report about the attack from a resident of the area who was using the Nigerien network.
However, a prominent traditional ruler in the area confirmed that some vehicles were sent to evacuate the corpses of the fallen heroes.
“And over 10 trucks loaded with well-armed soldiers are currently in the forest trailing the bandits.
A personnel of the NSCDC who sought for anonymity confirmed to our reporter that three of their personnel were among the casualties.
“As I am talking to you, we are at the morgue to claim and recover their corpses for burial,” he said.
It was learnt that the bandits also attacked Katsira village where they shot four persons.
Two of the victims were said to have died instantly while the remaining two were receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
The bandits were also said to have whisked away three persons from the village.
The spokesman for the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major Yahaya Ngulde could not be reached for comment as of the time of filing this report.
Similarly, the Police Public Relation Officer, ASP Sanusi Abubakar said he was not aware of the attack.
When contacted, the Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Benjamin Sawyer told one of our correspondents that he would get back after confirmation of the incident.
“You have already reported it quoting from your source. I will have to confirm your publication,’’ he said.
He was yet to get back to as at when filing this report.
Situation worsened by rivalry among security agencies – Experts
Experts have identified a lack of synergy among the various security agencies as a major factor responsible for insecurity in Nigeria. The experts made the comments in a Zoom meeting organised by the Nigerian Diaspora Network (NDN), US chapter on Saturday night.
Speaking on the matter, a retired army officer, Col. Nelson Hambolu noted that the whittling down of the Nigerian Police Force and duplication of its functions by other agencies had weakened the force.
“There is rivalry and at the end of the day, it is about money,” he said.
He advocated a return to the grassroots to address the challenge, maintaining that “We cannot talk about banditry without talking about unemployment and poverty.”
In his presentation, Prof Albert Ayeni described the actions of bandits as terrorism and warned the government to act before the infiltrating terrorists unleash more attacks that would make “What happened in Afghanistan would be a child’s play.”
He called on the legislature to find a way outside the efforts being made by the executive to address the ugly trend.
On his part, the President of the Nigerian Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), Kareem Bello identified “political system failure” as the major problem confronting Nigeria and which has translated to the high level of poverty and insecurity.
Daily Trust
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EFCC Drags Fuji Musician to Court Over Alleged ₦21.2m Fraud
EFCC Drags Fuji Musician to Court Over Alleged ₦21.2m Fraud
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a Fuji musician, Felix Duke Osagie, before a Lagos State court over an alleged ₦21.2 million fraud.
The musician was reportedly arraigned on Thursday before Justice Ismail Ijelu in connection with allegations of financial fraud, according to a report published on the EFCC’s social media platform.
The arraignment marks another high-profile case involving the anti-graft agency’s investigation and prosecution of alleged financial crimes.
However, details of the charge, including how the musician allegedly obtained the money, the identity of the complainant and the specific transactions involved, were not visible in the available excerpt.
EFCC Drags Fuji Musician to Court Over Alleged ₦21.2m Fraud
metro
‘Tinubu Graduated in 1979, You Arrived in 1985’: Omowaiye Challenges Pearse Over CSU Claims
‘Tinubu Graduated in 1979, You Arrived in 1985′: Omowaiye Challenges Pearse Over CSU Claims
ABUJA, Nigeria – A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Oluremi Omowaiye, has challenged Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Dr Adetokunbo Pearse, over his claims concerning President Bola Tinubu’s academic records, drawing attention to their respective educational backgrounds.
Omowaiye’s reaction followed Pearse’s recent television interview in which the former Chicago State University (CSU) lecturer questioned Tinubu’s attendance at the American institution and alleged that the President never studied there.
Pearse had claimed that he worked at Chicago State University between 1985 and 1990 and served as the director of the programme Tinubu reportedly attended.
However, Omowaiye dismissed the claim, arguing that Tinubu had graduated from the university in 1979, six years before Pearse said he began working there.
According to Omowaiye, the timeline raises questions about Pearse’s assertion that he directed the programme attended by the President.
The APC chieftain also questioned Pearse’s academic background, pointing to his reported studies in English at Bayero University, Kano, and subsequent academic pursuits at the University of Sheffield and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he reportedly obtained a doctorate in Contemporary African Literature.
Omowaiye argued that Pearse’s academic specialisation was in English and the humanities rather than Accounting, the discipline Tinubu studied at Chicago State University.
On Tinubu’s educational records, Omowaiye cited the October 2023 testimony of Chicago State University’s Registrar, Caleb Westberg, during legal proceedings in the United States.
Westberg testified that Tinubu attended the institution between August 1977 and June 1979 and graduated on June 22, 1979, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, majoring in Accounting.
The testimony was accompanied by university documents presented during the proceedings.
Omowaiye also maintained that the controversy surrounding Tinubu’s academic qualifications had been addressed by the Nigerian Supreme Court.
The APC chieftain reportedly gave Pearse seven days to retract his allegations and apologise publicly, threatening legal action and petitions to the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services if he failed to comply.
He said his intervention was motivated by concerns about the spread of claims concerning the President’s educational background, particularly among young Nigerians.
The controversy followed Pearse’s appearance on News Central Television, where he questioned the President’s academic history and accused the Minister of Education of misleading Nigerians over Tinubu’s educational records.
However, Pearse’s allegations remain disputed, particularly in view of the testimony and documentary evidence presented by Chicago State University during the 2023 US court proceedings.
The latest exchange has further intensified political arguments surrounding Tinubu’s educational qualifications as political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.
‘Tinubu Graduated in 1979, You Arrived in 1985’: Omowaiye Challenges Pearse Over CSU Claims
metro
Schoolboy Foils Kidnap Attempt After Suspect Uses Father’s Name to Lure Him
Schoolboy Foils Kidnap Attempt After Suspect Uses Father’s Name to Lure Him
EDJEKOTA-OGOR, DELTA STATE — A schoolboy identified as Marvellous has reportedly escaped a suspected kidnapping attempt after a commercial motorcycle rider allegedly tried to lure him away by claiming that his father had sent him.
The incident occurred in Edjekota-Ogor community in Delta State, where the unidentified motorcycle rider reportedly approached the boy and attempted to gain his confidence by mentioning his father’s name.
The suspect allegedly told Marvellous that his father had instructed him to pick him up, apparently hoping to deceive the young boy into following him.
However, Marvellous reportedly became suspicious of the rider’s claim and refused to go with him, thereby foiling what could have been an abduction.
Following the incident, community leaders reportedly intervened to ensure the boy’s safety and facilitate his return to his family.
The President-General of Edjekota-Ogor community subsequently directed the community’s Secretary-General to take necessary steps to protect the boy and reunite him with his relatives.
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Acting on the directive, the Secretary-General reportedly contacted members of Marvellous’s family and successfully ensured that he was returned safely to his relieved parents.
The incident has drawn attention to the need for increased vigilance among parents, guardians and community members over the safety of children.
Parents have been urged to educate their children never to follow anyone, including familiar-looking strangers, without first confirming such arrangements directly with them.
Children should also be taught not to rely solely on someone mentioning their parents’ names as proof of familiarity or authority.
The identity and whereabouts of the suspected motorcycle rider were not disclosed in the account of the incident.
Schoolboy Foils Kidnap Attempt After Suspect Uses Father’s Name to Lure Him
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